Thrust on ensuring transparency and accountability in public procurement

Experts at a workshop has said citizens' engagement in public procurement has improved the quality of work, reports BSS.

They underscored the need for ensuring transparency and accountability in public procurement for the best uses of the public money together with proper implementation of the development programmes.

The experts were addressing a divisional level workshop styled 'How to Engage Citizens in Public Procurement Process' at Chez Razzaque Restaurant in Rajshahi city.

Noting that citizens' engagement has ensured social accountability alongside creating an environment for the best use of public money, the speakers said emphasis should be given on generating public awareness related to the existing rules and regulations of procurement process so that the social watchdogs and citizens can get scopes of involving them in the process.

Involvement of citizens in public procurement would also help stop the irregularities and errors of procurement, they mentioned.

Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU) under Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) of Planning Ministry hosted the workshop in association with BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD).

CPTU Director General Ali Nur and Additional Commissioner of Rajshahi division Jakir Hossain addressed the opening session as the chief guest and the special guest respectively with Deputy Commissioner Hamidul Haque in the chair.

During his keynote presentation, Dr Mirza Hassan, Team Leader of BIGD, illustrated the aspects of citizens engagement in public procurement to ensure social accountability.

Ali Nur underlined the need for ensuring transparency and accountability in public procurement for the best uses of the public money together with proper implementation of the uplift programmes.

Wide-range promotion of Government Procurement (e-GP) has become an urgent need. As part of its Digital Bangladesh initiative, Bangladesh considers e-Governance to be a vital ingredient in achieving its goal.